Geog 2050 Ch. 7 questions
The Little Ice Age occurred from approximately __________. A) 950 to 1250 CE B) 1350 to 1850 CE C) 950 to 1250 BCE D) 1350 to 1850 BCE
B
The Quaternary period is used as an example of __________. A) a climate anomaly B) a climate cycle C) a climate trend D) a climate feedback
B
The __________ began the era of fossil fuel burning. A) Holocene epoch B) Industrial Revolution C) Agricultural Revolution D) Green Revolution
B
The precession component of a Milankovitch forcing takes about __________ years to complete one full cycle. A) 10,000 B) 24,000 C) 41,000 D) 100,000
B
Volcanic eruptions cause short-term cooling by __________. A) injecting ash and sulfur dioxide into the troposphere B) injecting ash and sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere C) releasing large amount of carbon dioxide D) depositing reflective ash on the ground
B
When Earth's temperatures were last warmer than today they were about __________ degrees Celsius above today's average temperature. A) 1 to 2 B) 3 to 4 C) 5 to 6 D) 7 to 8
B
When Earth's temperatures were last warmer than today, atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations were about __________ parts per million. A) 250 B) 300 C) 350 D) 400
B
When atmospheric carbon dioxide was last 400 parts per million, atmospheric temperatures were about __________ degrees Celsius warmer than today. A) 1 to 2 B) 2 to 3 C) 3 to 4 D) 4 to 5
B
Which does not transfer carbon from the atmosphere to the lithosphere? A) chemical weathering of rocks B) volcanic activity C) the activities of shell-building organisms D) the preservation of photosynthetic organisms on land and in the oceans
B
Which has the longest temporal scale? A) a rainbow B) Cenozoic cooling C) a hurricane D) the Younger Dryas
B
Which is an example of climate? A) a tornado B) the average July temperature C) one week of rain D) the relative humidity for an afternoon
B
Which material provides the longest record of climate change? A) tree rings B) marine sediments C) glaciers D) corals
B
A __________ causes climate change but is not affected by climate change. A) climate forcing B) climate feedback C) climate teleconnection D) climate anomaly
A
By the year 2100, higher estimates of atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations are __________ parts per million. A) 900 B) 950 C) 1,000 D) 1,050
A
Climatologists use __________ to develop predictions about how climate might respond to greenhouse gas forcing. A) Earth system models B) samples from marine sediments C) measurements of atmospheric temperature D) public opinion polls
A
During the last 800,000 years, carbon dioxide and __________ have increased and decreased synchronously. A) air temperature B) methane levels C) volcanic activity D) human populations
A
Glacial cycles require that the __________ cools. A) summer B) fall C) winter D) spring
A
How does carbon leave the lithosphere? A) through volcanic eruptions and burning of fossil fuels B) through photosynthesis C) through chemical weathering D) through sedimentation
A
In about __________ days, human activity emits an entire year's worth of average volcanic emissions. A) 4 B) 32 C) 68 D) 100
A
In order to meet the goals of carbon dioxide emissions cuts, buildings should reduce energy usage by __________ percent. A) 25 B) 30 C) 35 D) 40
A
In order to meet the goals of carbon dioxide emissions cuts, wind energy capacity must increase __________ times. A) 40 B) 50 C) 60 D) 70
A
In the short-term carbon cycle, 91 percent of carbon is in the __________. A) oceans B) biosphere C) atmosphere D) cryosphere
A
Increased sunspot activity can cause __________. A) warming B) cooling C) drought D) flooding
A
Interglacial periods last about __________ years on average. A) 10,000 B) 30,000 C) 60,000 D) 90,000
A
Since 1880, the average temperature of the lower atmosphere has increased __________ degrees Celsius. A) 0.83 B) 0.9 C) 1.3 D) 2.1
A
The Keeling curve shows measurements of __________. A) carbon dioxide B) methane C) sulfur dioxide D) ozone
A
The Medieval Warm Period occurred from approximately __________. A) 950 to 1250 CE B) 1350 to 1850 CE C) 950 to 1250 BCE D) 1350 to 1850 BCE
A
The Younger Dryas event is used as an example of __________. A) a climate anomaly B) a climate cycle C) a climate trend D) a climate feedback
A
The __________ is a global system of surface and deep ocean currents. A) ocean conveyor belt B) Medieval Warm Period C) ice-albedo positive feedback D) Holocene epoch
A
The __________ was the large ice sheet that formed over North America during the previous glacial cycle. A) Laurentide ice sheet B) Scandinavian ice sheet C) Cordilleran ice sheet D) Pleistocene ice sheet
A
The average rate of annual warming is __________ degrees Celsius. A) 0.013 B) 0.25 C) 0.51 D) 0.78
A
The last time temperatures were warmer than today was during the __________. A) Eemian B) Holocene C) Pleistocene D) Cenozoic
A
What happens as the oceans absorb carbon dioxide? A) They become more acidic. B) They become less acidic. C) They become warmer. D) They become colder.
A
Which is not contributing to sea-level rise? A) increased rainfall on land B) melting mountain glaciers C) expansion of seawater as it warms D) runoff from water pumped from the ground
A
Which material provides the highest temporal resolution? A) tree rings B) marine sediments C) glaciers D) corals
A
A __________ causes climate change and is affected by climate change. A) climate forcing B) climate feedback C) climate teleconnection D) climate anomaly
B
Bird populations have shifted north by about __________ kilometers on average since 1965. A) 40 B) 56 C) 67 D) 78
B
During the last 800,000 years, carbon dioxide concentrations have never exceeded __________ parts per million. A) 200 B) 300 C) 400 D) 500
B
From 1880 to 2010, the average sea surface temperature increased by __________ degrees Celsius. A) 0.31 B) 0.56 C) 0.78 D) 1.3
B
Human activity is increasing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by __________ parts per million per year. A) 1 B) 2.5 C) 3 D) 4.5
B
If the ocean conveyor belt slows down, the Northern Hemisphere gets __________. A) warmer B) colder C) wetter D) drier
B
In order to meet the goals of carbon dioxide emissions cuts, coal burning power plants must improve their efficiency to __________ percent. A) 50 B) 60 C) 70 D) 80
B
Scientists measure atmospheric carbon dioxide levels from Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawai'i because __________. A) Hawai'i is a convenient location and centrally located B) Hawai'i is far away from pollution from human activity C) Hawai'i has naturally high levels of carbon dioxide D) Hawai'i has naturally low levels of carbon dioxide
B
The Gulf Stream transports __________ percent of all global heating moving north and south. A) 10 B) 25 C) 30 D) 50
B
The IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) projects that sea levels could rise by __________ meters by 2100. A) 0.5 B) 1.2 C) 2.2 D) 2.6
B
The Cenozoic Era is used as an example of __________. A) a climate anomaly B) a climate cycle C) a climate trend D) a climate feedback
C
Altogether, sea level has risen about __________ millimeters since 1880. A) 100 B) 150 C) 200 D) 250
C
Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels began to dramatically increase around the year __________. A) 1600 B) 1750 C) 1850 D) 1920
C
Each year, human-caused deforestation moves about __________ billion metric tons of carbon to the atmosphere. A) 1.3 B) 2.5 C) 3.4 D) 4.5
C
Glacial cycles develop as ice sheets grow in __________. A) Eurasia B) North America C) the Northern Hemisphere D) the Southern Hemisphere
C
Most atmospheric warming is occurring __________. A) in the Southern Hemisphere B) in the tropics C) in the Arctic D) at midlatitudes in the Northern Hemisphere
C
Scientists have set the goal to not exceed carbon dioxide levels of __________ parts per million. A) 400 B) 450 C) 500 D) 550
C
Scientists suspect that the ocean conveyor system was slowed during the Younger Dryas due to __________. A) warm water from the Gulf Stream B) cold water from the Laurentide ice sheet C) fresh water from the Laurentide ice sheet D) volcanic eruptions
C
Since 1900, the growing season is on average __________ days longer for the lower 48 states. A) 7 B) 12 C) 15 D) 20
C
The Cenozoic cooling is thought to have been caused by __________. A) a gradual dimming of the Sun B) changes in Earth-Sun orbital relations C) the uplift of the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau D) changes in snow and ice cover in the Northern Hemisphere
C
The Greenland Norse society failed because of __________. A) frozen soils B) disease that killed its livestock C) summer sea ice D) global warming
C
The Younger Dryas was a cooling period that was caused by __________. A) volcanic eruptions B) Milankovitch cycles C) ocean currents D) snow coverage
C
The axial tilt component of a Milankovitch forcing takes about __________ years to complete one full cycle. A) 10,000 B) 24,000 C) 41,000 D) 100,000
C
The last time atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations were 400 parts per million was __________ million years ago. A) 1 B) 2 C) 3 D) 4
C
The oceans have absorbed about __________ percent of carbon dioxide emitted to the atmosphere by human burning of fossil fuels. A) 10 B) 20 C) 30 D) 40
C
The year __________ recorded the lowest-ever extent of Arctic sea ice. A) 2010 B) 2011 C) 2012 D) 2013
C
There have been about __________ glacial-interglacial cycles during the Quaternary period. A) 10 B) 16 C) 22 D) 43
C
When Earth's temperatures were last warmer than today, sea levels were about __________ meters higher than today. A) 1 to 2 B) 3 to 4 C) 4 to 6 D) 6 to 8
C
Which is an example of a climate feedback? A) a volcano B) changes in solar output C) changes in snow coverage D) changes in Earth-Sun orbital geometry
C
Which is an example of weather? A) the average date of the first frost B) the average number of hurricanes per season C) the date of the first frost D) the average number of days of thunderstorms
C
Which is not a factor that contributes to the scientific uncertainty of how much temperature will warm by 2100? A) the extent of fossil fuel burning B) the extent of deforestation C) the extent of extreme weather events in the coming years D) the extent of cloud feedbacks
C
Which would not help an individual reduce his or her carbon emissions? A) driving less B) using renewable energy C) eating more meat D) flying less
C
About 55 million years ago, during the Cenozoic, atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations were about __________ parts per million. A) 300 B) 500 C) 900 D) 1,000
D
About 55 million years ago, during the Cenozoic, the average global temperature was about __________ degrees Celsius warmer than today. A) 4 B) 8 C) 10 D) 12
D
About 99.9 percent of all carbon on Earth is stored in the __________. A) atmosphere B) biosphere C) hydrosphere D) lithosphere
D
By the year 2100, lower estimates of atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations are __________ parts per million. A) 400 B) 450 C) 500 D) 550
D
During the Younger Dryas, Greenland temperature dropped by __________ degrees Celsius. A) 4 B) 8 C) 12 D) 15
D
Each year, burning of fossil fuels moves about __________ billion metric tons of carbon to the atmosphere. A) 1.4 B) 6.8 C) 19.3 D) 31.6
D
Earth's average temperature is now higher than at any time in the last __________ years as a result of the anthropogenic greenhouse effect. A) 100 B) 500 C) 1,000 D) 1,500
D
Glacial periods last about __________ years on average. A) 10,000 B) 30,000 C) 60,000 D) 90,000
D
Global sea level is rising about __________ millimeters per year. A) 1.1 B) 1.6 C) 2.4 D) 3.2
D
Human activity moves about __________ times more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere than all volcanic activity. A) 5 to 10 B) 20 to 30 C) 50 to 70 D) 100 to 300
D
In order to meet the goals of carbon dioxide emissions cuts, solar energy capacity must increase __________ times. A) 100 B) 300 C) 500 D) 700
D
In some places in the western United States snowpack has decreased by as much as __________ percent over the last 50 years. A) 50 B) 60 C) 70 D) 80
D
On May 9, 2013, atmospheric carbon dioxide levels rose above _________ parts per million briefly, then dropped back down. A) 397 B) 398 C) 399 D) 400
D
Scientists study ancient atmospheric carbon dioxide levels preserved in __________. A) marine sediments B) tree rings C) corals D) ice cores
D
The orbital eccentricity component of a Milankovitch forcing takes about __________ years to complete one full cycle. A) 10,000 B) 24,000 C) 41,000 D) 100,000
D
To stop carbon dioxide concentrations from increasing, human emissions must be reduced by about __________ percent. A) 50 B) 60 C) 70 D) 80
D
When atmospheric carbon dioxide was last 400 parts per million, global sea level was about __________ meters higher than today. A) 10 B) 15 C) 20 D) 25
D
Which is an example of weather? A) drought B) the Asian monsoon C) El Niño D) a midlatitude storm
D
Which is not among the ways the climate change problem can be addressed at the international level? A) carbon taxes B) cap and trade C) carbon credits D) voluntary reductions by cities
D
Which is not being observed in the current warming trend? A) The pace of warming mirrors the pace of carbon dioxide increases in the atmosphere. B) The nights are warming faster than the days. C) The lower stratosphere is cooling. D) The tropics are warming faster than middle and high latitudes.
D
Which would not help an individual drive less? A) choice of living location B) bicycling C) using public transportation D) increasing use of solar energy
D
